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Jenny Foster

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT:

This week has indeed been a sad time for Rotarians around the World as we all learn of the passing of Rotary International President Elect, Sam F Owori. For those who may not have seen this message from RI President Ian Riseley today:

Dear fellow Rotarians,

There has been an outpouring of heartfelt messages since President-elect Sam’s passing last week. Rotarians and members of the public have been sharing memories and recalling how Sam inspired them through his hard work as a Rotarian and as a dedicated civil servant. It is clear that his impact and legacy were felt worldwide.

There will be a service for Sam on Friday, 21 July, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., at St. Vincent’s Cathedral in Bedford, Texas. Friends in the area are encouraged to visit. Funeral services in Uganda are currently being planned.

Memorial contributions in honor of Sam will be directed to the Sam F. Owori Memorial to Polio. This fund has been established to honor his commitment to Rotary’s polio eradication efforts. Sam was a member of both the Africa Regional PolioPlus Committee and the International PolioPlus Committee. You can make online contributions to the fund here.

The 2017-18 nominating committee will select a new president-elect, in addition to the president-nominee, during its scheduled meeting in early August.

Thank you all for your continued support during this difficult time.

As we reflect on this message I hope that all Members & Friends of our Club will also think of the following:

“Honour the Past, Celebrate the Present, Embrace the Future”

I hope that we can all encompass these words as we work together to grow our Club. This week was our first dinner meeting. Thank you for those who attended & I’m sure everyone was really proud to hear about “Wheelchairs For Kids”, a Rotary project making such a difference to so many children around the World.

Let’s also celebrate the very special occasions of life: CONGRATULATIONS to our very own Lino & Angelino Airo-Farulla who are celebrating their 50th Wedding Anniversary. How special is this & we hope you enjoy the Gold bottle of champagne, a small gift from our Club to our “love-birds”!

Over this Rotary year we will be having trivia questions each week. Perhaps history questions or last night were relating to the Guest Speakers presentation. The winner/s will receive a special block of sparkly chocolate hand-made by Jane Carbone, thank you & answers will be published when it may be of further interest, as below.

Last week’s Question 1 was: What is the history of the silver pot that is passed around at all our meetings?

Maurice Mollica won & here is what he told us:

President – Jenny Foster 2017/18

Volume 83, Issue 3

July 18th 2017

Secretary@RCE.org.au www.RCE.org.au

We know it as the " silver pot " because we ask Members to donate silver coins or loose change they might have in their pockets at our weekly meetings. The original pot was called a "copper pot" when in those days pennies and half pennies were made of copper & of some value. The copper pot was donated to our Rotary Club by our Mother Club, the Rotary Club of Melbourne back in 1935 when they chartered our Club. Late in the 1950's the pot became what it is today, "the silver pot”. This is not the original silver pot as it was bashed about and the club purchased what we have today. However, early in the 1980’s Rotarian Ted Garner, from the Rotary Club of Wembley, with whom our Club had contacts because we sent parcels of food and clothing during the 2nd World War to England, donated to our Club another silver pot much bigger than the present one. Somehow over the years that silver pot has got lost and we have the present one which is worse for wear. (Thank you Maurice)

Question 2: Where does the money go? Winner: Grant Sheldon

The money is deposited into the Club’s Project account for distribution to Foundation, or other project work.

If you have further trivia Q & A’s, or things you would like to find about, please let me know.

Have a great week!

Russell Hayes – East Coast Division

"Wheelchairs For Kids Inc" Since 1998 a Project of the Rotary Club of Scarborough, WA, assisted by the Christian Brothers Website https://wheelchairsforkids.org For almost twenty years since establishment, "Wheelchairs For Kids Inc” (WFK) has provided an impressive overall number of wheelchairs to disabled children living in about 70 developing nations. To date nearly 37,500 wheelchairs have been manufactured & distributed to disadvantaged children around the world, 1330 so far in 2017. Approximately 340 wheelchairs are produced every month (approximately 3550 per year) WFK operates with a totally volunteer workforce who attend the workshop every week to meet the objective of filling two twenty foot shipping containers every month with the wheelchairs that are distributed free of charge by various aid agencies in the respective destinations. Many Rotary Clubs around Australia include the wheelchairs in their club projects to ship goods to various countries they may be supporting, and this is also ongoing via "Donations In Kind" at Footscray West, including Cambodia thanks to the assistance of the Rotary Club of Essendon. These wheelchairs are locally designed specifically to conform to WHO guidelines. New components to be assembled are shipped from China to build the wheelchairs.

They are built specially for rough terrain, adjustable for the child’s size, with postural supports, head rest, harness, a waterproof cushion, tray, tool kit, plus a knitted knee rug and a knitted toy, made by others such as CWA ladies. On delivery of the chairs to the receiving sites, agency and hospital personnel, therapists and individuals are involved in providing therapy in the field to ensure each ‘wheelchair is correctly adjusted and fitted to the receiving child to ensure they are comfortable.

The provision of a wheelchair changes the lives of the recipient and also the whole family. Instead of being left in a situation of being unable to even attend school, the recipient is given the opportunity to develop and take a place in the World similar to disabled people in our World. Rotary Clubs can support a low cost Youth Committee event at a local school where the children become inspired to raise funds via sponsorships to create wheelchairs for disadvantaged children overseas and thereby learn a lesson in compassion. The Club can also offer a “sausage sizzle” to all involved & engage in a wonderfully fun event. The event typically finances between twenty and fifty wheelchairs which is apart from any contribution by the sponsoring Rotary club, and represents fulfilment of an International Committee overseas aid objective with funding having been achieved via the school community. "For a cost to us of $200 we give each child an adjustable, all - terrain, fully cushioned wheelchair with postural support devices, if needed, for the head, trunk and legs along with an upper body harness and foot restraints. Our gift also includes a detachable lap tray, carry basket, colourful knee rug and soft toy, spare cushioning, tool kit and spare fasteners. We believe this is a life - changing gift” *** Over the next month there will be a glass jar on the front desk at each Club meeting for donations to "Wheelchairs For Kids” ***

An email received just last week: "Safe Haven”, (a disability project in Siem Reap that we deliver the wheelchairs to)…….. I couldn't thank them enough for what they do. Safe Haven works with one of my Khmer 'Sisters' who has a severely disabled daughter. They provided a physiotherapist who came to her house and taught her exercises to do with her daughter Mey Mey. They have also provided her with a wheelchair so she can get Mey Mey out the house and have also included her in Mothers Groups with other families who also have a child with a disability. This significantly helped Channa in coping with Mey Mey and assisted to erase that shame she felt due to family/friends views. Now she is so proud of her daughter and every little milestone she makes. So, thank you for your involvement with Safe Haven; I can't thank you enough”. It’s emails like this & smiles on the children & families faces that makes me know why we want to part of Rotary International.

Daryl presenting Barry Harvey RCE Nth with a gift in appreciation for his help in hiring and operating the Forklift to relocate the

Men's Shed storage container at considerable savings to the SM shed.

Next week we have the Strathmore Men's Shed talk, so come along and listen to how the RCE investment in the Shed is being put to good use. Daryl will lead off with some history on how the idea came about, originating with Simon Cookson. Jan Chantry will follow discussing her and MVCC's involvement with obtaining the finance, suitable land, necessary permits and tenders to erect the facility. Establishment of the Memorandum of Understanding between Rotary & MVCC to establish & populate a Management Committee to run the SM Shed. Last but not least Steve Holman (a retired electrical engineer) and Rod McLeod (retired accountant & company director)-two of the leaders in SM Shed, will then follow discussing how the members and the local community benefit from the SM Shed. The types of activities the SM Shed has been involved in followed by an opportunity to purchase goods the SM Shed have manufactured and question time -if time permits. The Men’s Shed story & how it started

Dazzling.....the story goes like this.................

Simon Cookson’s cousin, Doug Philipson resides in Anglesea and was a Probus President overseeing the construction of the

Anglesea Men's Shed.

Over a beer he told me how this had given a number of lonely men in the Anglesea area a reason to live. Some companionship

and more. He felt it had saved lives.

Simon got thinking about doing this in the RCE as the club had been longing for a "Community Project" to unite the club. It

seemed that the RCE was fractured a little by the fact that the "International Projects" were well supported, dynamic and

successful but not all the members liked this situation and wanted something for the local community.

Simon was discussing the subject over a wine or three in the Anglesea Caravan Park with a friend, Christine Campbell who was,

at that time, the Labour member for Pascoe Vale and Christine listened to the idea and suggested the City of Moonee Valley

Mayor, Jan Chantry was the person who could help.

Simon spoke to Jan that week and she was excited. She had been trying to find a NFP Group like Rotary to do the same. She

suggested a grouping of the Essendon, North Essendon and Strathmore clubs.

Alistair Fraser and Simon agreed to meet and do it together with Jan pushing things along.

Simon offered it up to club as a suggestion and the response was initially luke warm but as things got some momentum and

backing from Jan Chantry we started to get somewhere. There was 2 plus years of work in this project from woe to go.

Lisa Lowcock was about to become president and Lisa was enthusiastic about this being her major project for her presidential

year so with Jan pushing for funds at council and Lisa focussed at RCE and having the perfect site chosen by council we were

able to get to designing the shed and costing the project. Lisa, Alistair Fraser and Simon with members from the other 2 clubs

watched as Jan Lobbied for a second time for council funding. It was a team effort with most monies coming from 2 separate

council approvals as well as the clubs all chiming in with monies and committee volunteers and more.

The Shed was born and hopefully it is helping lonely men and it might also be saving someone's life. Giving purpose to someone

who might otherwise have no reason to go on.

Lisa Lowcock, Jan Chantry, Rod Gurry and more are the reasons we got this wonderful job done.......................but it all started

over a red wine chat under a starry night in a caravan park in Anglesea.

Fundraiser Movie Night

Bringing The Light Friday 4th August

Essendon Baptist Community Church

138 Buckley Street Essendon 6pm for Pizza

6.45pm Movie After the movie has concluded, Stephanie Woollard will

be available for a “Q&A” session with our audience, interviewed by

Bernadette Schwerdt (TED Talk Speaker)

This documentary movie follows a group of Nepalese women over a period of four years seeking to create a better

life for themselves, their families and other women in Nepal

Stephanie Woollard is the Founder and CEO of ‘Seven Women’. Stephanie is also a Rotary Peace Fellow and was

recently one of six winners of the International Responsible Business Award, which she received at the United

Nations. She has the desire to take the message to the world that every one of us can make a difference. This movie

will inspire and encourage us all.

www.sevenwomen.org

$20 per adult 15 concession/student $50 family

Entry price includes pizza and movie

Drinks, ice creams and raffle tickets will be sold on the night

* All money raised on the night will be distributed to the 3 organisations

RSVP: careforcambodians@gmail.com

Or phone or text Jane Carbone on 0417329005

EVENTS CALENDAR DATE SPEAKER/EVENT VENUE

24th July 2017 Movie night “Paris Can Wait” – supporting Brumby babes

See details above

25th July 2017 Strathmore Men’s shed The Anglers Tavern 12.30 pm for 1pm to 2pm

29th July 2017 Club Forum Education Centre – St Thomas Anglican

Church 760 Mount Alexander Road 10am to

4pm

1st August 2017 Cancelled No lunch meeting

4th August 2017 Movie night – “Bringing the Light” Essendon Baptist Church – Evening time TBA

8th August 2017 Trevor Schwenke – CEO Kangan The Anglers Tavern 12.30 pm for 1pm to 2pm

11th August 2017 Rotary Club of Keilor East Trivia Night

15th August 2017 Stephanie Woollard- Founder “Seven women”

The Anglers Tavern 6 pm to 7.30 pm NIGHT

MEETING

22nd August 2017 Larry Marshall – Badge Talk The Anglers Tavern 12.30 pm for 1pm to 2pm

29th August 2017 TBA – Ben Mabon Ladder – Father’s Day Theme

The Anglers Tavern 12.30 pm for 1pm to 2pm

5th Sept 2017 Clair Halliday – Author The Anglers Tavern 12.30 pm for 1pm to 2pm

12th Sept 2017 DG Visit – Peter Frueh

19th Sept 2017 TBA The Anglers Tavern Night meeting 6pm to

7.30pm

26th Sept 2017 Footys 4 All – Michael Gallus – Grand Final week

The Anglers Tavern 12.30 pm for 1pm to 2pm

3rd Oct 2017 Deb Slogget & Helen Penna – Cambodia The Anglers Tavern 12.30 pm for 1pm to 2pm

10th Oct 2017 Steve Sammartino – “The Lessons School Forgot”

The Anglers Tavern 12.30 pm for 1pm to 2pm

17th Oct 2017 Spring Racing Carnival The Anglers Tavern 6 to 7.30pm

24th Oct 2017

TBA

31st Oct 2017 DIK Dinner with CWA The Anglers Tavern Night meeting 6pm to

7.30pm

7th Nov 2017 No Meeting – Cup Day

14th Nov 2017 TBA

21st Nov 2017 Peru International The Anglers Tavern 6 to 7.30pm

28th Nov 2017 Club AGM The Anglers Tavern 12.30 pm for 1pm to 2pm

5th Dec 2017 TBA

12th Dec 2017 Christmas party The Anglers Tavern 12.30 pm for 1pm to 2pm

19th Dec 2017 Breakfast meeting

16th Jan 2018 Fellowship dinner with North Essendon

20th Feb 2018 Foundation dinner

27th March 2018 No meeting – Art Show

Winner for the Worst Hat: Sam Tartaglia

Have you taken any photos on your iphone, or camera in

this past Rotary Year?

Can I please have them forwarded to:

M.Kouppas@hotmail.com

Many of these photos will form a special memento of this

past year, and I would like to use them as part of the

year in summary.

I appreciate your help with this. Remember any Rotary

function or event….

Thanking you in anticipation

Maria

John L Gregory

Certified Practising Accountant

272 Keilor Road,

North Essendon, VIC 3041

jgregory@netspace.net.au

Telephone: 03-9379 1705

Help yourself and help the Club by banking with Strathmore Community Bank. For example, take out a home loan

and the club will receive up to $500. Take out a 3 month fixed term deposit and the club will receive up to $50.

For more details drop into the branch at 337 Napier St or call branch Manager Philip Stewart on 9374-2607.